• A widely shared WhatsApp message alleged a woman was drugged via a business card in Limavady.
  • Police enquiries found no evidence to support the claim.
  • The story follows a long-established pattern of viral “drugged business card” hoaxes.
  • Learn how to spot fear-based misinformation before sharing it.

A recent viral WhatsApp message has been in circulation claiming that a woman was approached by three men (described as being “foreign nationals”) in a garage forecourt in Limavady who asked if she required any painting or decorating.

According to the message, when the woman declined she was given a business card and then began to lose consciousness due to touching a gel-like substance on the card.

The message itself appears to be a screen recording of a Facebook Messenger direct message. Details of this story have also been shared on a Facebook group. 

Was this the case?

There is currently no evidence that this event took place, despite investigations in the area by the Police Service of Northern Ireland

Read on for more information about how viral messages on social media and WhatsApp groups can spread rapidly, and how to recognise and avoid misleading or false information.

Figure 1 – source: messages from WhatsApp (note that FCNI has removed some names to protect the identity of individuals included who are unconnected to the messages themselves)

FactCheckNI reached out to the PSNI, who subsequently released a statement detailing that they had not received a report of the incident but were conducting enquiries into the online speculation about a possible incident:

“We are aware of online speculation concerning an incident at a forecourt in the Ballyquinn Road area of the town.

No formal report has been made to police, and we are carrying out a number of enquiries into the circumstances of what may have happened, and the nature of these reports online.

We would therefore appeal to anyone who may have witnessed anything or has any information including CCTV or dash-cam footage to make contact with us 101, alternatively 999 in an emergency.”

A follow up statement issued by the PSNI indicated that they had “completed enquiries into an alleged report of a possible drugging-related incident” and that:

“No evidence was identified by officers throughout the course of enquiries to substantiate online speculation concerning an incident at a forecourt in the Ballyquinn Road area.”

The statement said that “Police would, however, still encourage anyone with information to make contact”.

  • WhatsApp rumours: drugged business cards

Similar viral stories have circulated internationally that have used the same story of a drugged business card. The variation in the international hoaxes has been that those stories tend to reference a specific substance; “burundanga”. In the case of Limavady, this was not referenced. However, the voicenote did reference a “gel like substance”.

Hoaxes focusing on drugged business cards have been doing the rounds for decades at this point. While this version follows a familiar pattern, the reference to the alleged perpetrators as “foreign nationals” is significant. In the absence of verified evidence, such details can contribute to fear, suspicion, and hostility towards migrants and minority communities.

  • What to look out for

This rumour focuses on a local area and a potentially vulnerable victim, making it more likely to provoke fear and be shared. It also draws attention to the alleged nationality of the men involved, despite there being no evidence the incident occurred.

When you come across similar messages, ask yourself:

  • Does it encourage fear or outrage? Fear-based content is often designed to spread quickly.
  • Does it blame an entire group for the actions of a few individuals? Nationality, ethnicity or religion are often used to create suspicion of whole communities.
  • Does it use one alleged incident to make a broader claim? Anecdotes are not evidence of wider trends.
  • Is there a reliable source? Be cautious of messages that rely on unnamed individuals, voice notes, or screenshots without verification.
  • Does it create an “us versus them” narrative? Content that divides people into “locals” and “outsiders” is often intended to increase distrust.
  • Does it claim to reveal what authorities or the media won’t tell you? This is a common tactic used to make rumours appear credible.
  • Can the claim be independently verified? If not, think carefully before sharing.

Before You Share

Ask yourself:

  • Who created this message, and why?
  • Is there evidence, or just rumours and anecdotes?
  • Does it encourage fear, anger or suspicion towards a particular group?
  • Could sharing it contribute to prejudice, discrimination or social division?

Fear spreads faster than facts. Messages designed to provoke fear or blame entire communities should be checked particularly carefully before being believed or shared.